1These be the last sayings of David. David the son of Isai said: And the man is lifted up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob and pleasant Psalmist of Israel said:
2the spirit of the LORD spake in me, and his words were on my tongue.
3The God of Israel spake unto me, and the strength of Israel said: he that beareth rule over men, he that ruleth justly in the fear of God.
4And he shall be as the morning light, when the son shineth in a morning in which are no clouds to let the brightness, and as the grass of the earth is by the virtue of the rain.
5And is not mine house so with God? in that he hath made with me an everlasting covenant perfect in all points: and in that he shall fulfil all that is healthsome unto me, and all my desires thereto.
6When the unthrifty men are all of them as thorns taken out of their places, which can not be taken with hands.
7But the man that shall touch them, must be armed with iron on a long helve. And then shall they be burned with fire to sit thereby.
8These be the names of the mighty men that were about David: Joseb of Sebeth the Thachmonite, first of three, otherwise called Adino the Azonite, which slew eight hundredth at one time.
9And next to him Eleazar the son of Dodi the son of Ahohi, one of the three principal that were with David, which when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together in battle (and the men of Israel were gone up)
10arose and laid on the Philistines until his hand ached and clave unto the sword. And the LORD made a great victory the same day. And the people returned and went after him only to spoil.
11After him was Sema the son of Ageh the Hararite (which when the Philistines were gathered together in Lahaia where was a parcel of land full of rice, and the people were fled for fear of the Philistines)
12stood in the midst of the said ground, and defended it and slew the Philistines. And the LORD gave him a great victory.
13And these three of the thirty of the Lord's went down and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave Odolom. And the Host of the Philistines had pitched in the valley of Giants.
14And David was then in an hold. And the Soldiers of the Philistines were then in Bethlehem.
15And David longed and said: Oh, that I had of the water that is in the well in the gate of Bethlehem for to drink.
16And anon the three mighty brake thorow the Host of the Philistines and fetched water out of the well of Bethlehem that was in the gate, and took and brought it to David: Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but offered it unto the LORD
17and said: the LORD forbid that I should do so, should I drink the blood of men that were in jeopardy of their lives? and so he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18Then Abisai the brother of Joab, the son of Saruiah: he was a captain over the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundredth and slew them, and was named with the three.
19For he was nobler man than the three and was their captain. How be it he attained not unto those three in acts.
20Then Banaiah the son of Jehoiada the son of a lusty man valiant in acts of Rabzeel, he slew two lions of Moab. He went down and slew a lion in a pit in time of Snow.
21And he slew an Egyptian a goodly man, which had a spear in his hand. And Banaiah went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and slew him with his own spear:
22Such things did Banaiah the son of Jehoiada and was the noblest of thirty: But not like to any of the three in facts of war.
23And David made him of his counsel.
24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty. Then Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem:
25Semah the Harodite: Elica the Harodite:
26Helez the Palitite: Ira the son of Akes the Thekoite:
27Abiezer of Anathoth: Mobonai the Husathite:
28Zelmon an Ahohite: Maharai the Netophathite:
29Heleb the son of Baanah an Netophathite: Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaah a city of the children of Benjamin:
30Banaiah the Pharathonite: Hedai of the river of Gaas:
31Abialbon the Arbathite: Asmaueth a Berhomite:
32Elithaba a Salabonite: Of the sons of Jasen Jonathas:
33Semah the Harorite: Ahiam the son of Sarar an Ararite:
34Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of a Maachathite: Eliam the son of Ahitophel the Gilonite:
35Hezrai the Carmelite: Pharai the Arbite:
36Igaal the son of Nathan of Zobah: Bani the Gadite:
37Zelec an Ammonite: Naharai a Berothite the Harnessbearer of Joab the son of Zaruiah:
38Ira the Jethrite: Gareb the Jethrite:
39Uriah the Hethite: in all thirty and seven.